Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – June 20 2018 – Today’s content

Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – June 20 2018 – Today’s content Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. [caption id="attachment_297" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.[/caption] State sector spying Zac Fleming (RNZ): Thompson and Clark used SIS contact to seek govt contracts Claire Trevett and Lucy Bennett (Herald): Close relationship between public service and Thompson and Clark concerning, State Services Minister Chris Hipkins says Newshub: Private spying by Government departments ‘concerning’ – Privacy Foundation Newshub: SIS director ‘concerned’ over SIS communications with Thompson and Clark Patrick Gower (Newshub): Christchurch earthquake victim outraged over Government spying Patrick Gower (Newshub): ‘Private spying’ inquiry broadened to every Government department Herald: Government probe: The SIS and Thompson and Clark emails that sparked an investigation Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Spy firm inquiry casts the net Stacey Kirk and Tracy Watkins (Stuff): State sector watchdog broadens inquiry into misuse of private security firms Herald: Inquiry into government department use of private investigators Thompson and Clark widened RNZ: Inquiry into spying claims extended to all govt agencies 1News: MPI says it’s uncovered evidence of ‘potentially serious’ staff misconduct No Right Turn: Cosy corruption Employment, pay disputes Michael Morrah (Newshub): Exclusive: Major increase in NZ hospitality workers being exploited Bryce Edwards (Newsroom Pro): Unravelling the ‘back to the 70s’ view  Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Labour’s sympathetic ear means it is destined to feel far more pressure from unions ODT Editorial: Successful mediation hope Timaru Herald: Dispute could still be resolved without strikes 1News: National accuses Government of providing nurses with ‘massively inflated’ pay expectations RNZ: DHB & nurses face off: In their own words Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): In their words: Nurses on what it’s like at the coalface Lucy Bennett (Herald): Nurses’ offer could be rejigged but no more money, Government says 1News: ‘We can’t fix everything up after six months’ – Winston Peters asks for patience in nurses’ pay dispute Housing Richard Harman (Politik): Overseas buyer ban full of loopholes Audrey Young (Herald): Bill banning house sales to overseas investors watered down by new exemptions Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): The effect of foreign buyer ban? Time will tell Mike Hosking (Newstalk ZB): Finally some common sense from Government on foreign house buyers Tova O’Brien (Newshub): Foreign landlords imminent as Government waters down foreign home buyer ban Newshub: Government backtrack on foreign buyer ban a good move for development – Property Council Newshub: Property investors praise Government decision to soften foreign buyers ban 1News: Government relaxes rules on foreign buyer ban Henry Cooke (Stuff): Foreign buyers ban relaxed on apartments and for Singapore nationals Eva Corlett (RNZ): Overseas house buyer problem ‘was never real’ Jane Patterson (RNZ): Government relaxes rules on foreign buyer ban 1News: Foreign buyer law one step closer, but Real Estate Institute still critical of bill Anne Gibson (Herald): Experts welcome anti-foreign buyer back-down Point of Order: Before foreigners pass the buck, new investment law will require a quality check Eric Crampton: The foreign buyer ban – revisited Jenny Suo (1News): Report raises concern over quality of Government’s KiwiBuild houses Ben Leahy (Herald): KiwiBuild to embrace challenge of building quality and affordable home: Twyford Gyles Beckford (RNZ): Cap gains would cut house prices, increase ownership – study Emma Hatton (RNZ): Soaring premiums could lead to under-insuring of homes Newshub: Woman shocked by major increase in her home insurance premium 1News: Wellington woman shocked at ‘300 per cent’ house insurance hike – $5k a year Government Bill Ralston (Listener): With Winston Peters at the helm, almost anything could happen Toby Manhire (Spinoff): The 24 most Winston things said by Winston Peters in the last 24 hours 1News: Winston Peters suggests youth should ‘get off their big half-acre’ on buses for seniors 1News: Watch: Winston Peters labels National leader’s question ‘unadulterated nonsense’ as fuel tax debate ignites in Beehive 1News: ‘We’ll bother each other when we have to’ – Winston Peters on how much contact he’ll have with Jacinda Ardern during her maternity leave AAP (Guardian): New Zealand: Winston Peters vows to be first to enter re-opened Pike River mine Jason Walls (Interest): Fonterra won’t be Jones’ last corporate punching bag David Cormack (Herald): Why we shouldn’t worry about our current dysfunctional Govt Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): When it was 60 jobs for a bottling company, Greens say yes. When it’s 60 jobs in mining, Greens say no – are the Greens drunk or stupid? Olivia Wix (RNZ): PM’s birth plans show women they can have it all Public service Bryce Edwards (Herald): Political Roundup: Shaking up the machinery of government Point of Order: Lessons in public service ethics are praiseworthy – but why link them with the Beehive? Environment and conservation Farah Hancock (Newsroom): ‘Sweeteners’ offered in conservation land deal ODT: West Coast coal mining issue ‘challenging’ Henry Cooke (Stuff): Fighting climate change wouldn’t stop our economy, but it might hurt the poor Jeanette Fitzsimons (Spinoff): Cutting methane hard and fast is the best path to Carbon Zero Thomas Mead (Newshub): DoC suspicious as number of Kiwis walking Abel Tasman track doubles RNZ: Paparoa Great Walk on track – DOC Carly Thomas (Stuff): Call for urgent change as environmental book released 1News: Kaitāia man jailed for one-year for pāua poaching, and $12k black market sale Lois Williams (RNZ): Supreme Court to hear case against swamp kauri exports RNZ: Kauri dieback disease spreads to private property Joshua Walton (ODT): Call for green status of packaging to be shown Education Conan Young (RNZ): Overseas teachers filling roles NZers don’t want 1News: Auckland primary school puts five classes in hall with two staff amid relief teacher ‘crisis’ 1News: Primary relief teacher shortage worsening in some parts of NZ Hawke’s Bay Today: Hawke’s Bay’s Stoney Creek Ranch holiday camp closes, citing health and safety costs Isaac Davison (Herald): Former Māori boarding school Hato Petera College set to close as minister cancels agreement Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Auckland Māori catholic school on the brink of closure Stuff: Co-ed schools are the norm 1News: Watch: Charity makes biggest shoe delivery of the year to grateful South Auckland kids Immigration and refugees Laura Walters (Stuff): NZ works to double refugee quota as others close their borders Newshub: How new refugees react to New Zealand Gill Bonnett (RNZ): Couple avoids deportation for immigration fraud Health and disability Zane Small (Newshub): Loneliness ‘absolutely does’ kill people – Age Concern Canterbury CEO Scott Palmer (Newshub): New Zealand reaches crisis point with drinking Tom Hunt (Dominion Post): Woman in her 90s forces heavy door open as retirement village fire alarm sounds Amy Wiggins (Herald): 37 per cent of Auckland school children overweight, report finds Yvonne O’Hara (ODT): Call for rural health to be part of review Northern Advocate: Claims bag of methamphetamine found in Whangārei Hospital’s children’s ward Emma Hatton (RNZ): Holiday season midwife shortage worsens Kaitlin Ruddock (1News): Health Minister calls for immediate review of DHB move to alter Nelson after-hours mental health service for kids & teens Susan Strongman (The Wireless): Who will help the helplines? Newshub: World Health Organisation removes trans identities from ‘mental disorder’ category Abortion Cate Broughton (Stuff): Teen abortion rates declining amid small rise national trend Isaac Davison (Herad): NZ women increasingly having abortions before 10 weeks Isaac Davison (Herald): New Zealand’s abortion rate rises slightly, though teen abortions fall RNZ: More abortions performed in 2017: Stats NZ Martin Johnson (Herald): New Zealand’s first registered woman doctor was involved in illegal abortion trade Euthanasia Alex Penk and Danielle van Dalen (Stuff): End of Life Choice Bill contains flaws that are impossible to fix Laura Walters (Stuff): David Seymour open to change his euthanasia bill to stop objecting doctors being punished Food prices John Gibb (ODT): Healthy food costs still rise 1News: Cost of healthy food jumps in most main centres across New Zealand Super Fund  Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): Finance Minister Grant Robertson ‘disappointed’ with terms of NZ Super CEO’s remuneration Hamish Rutherford (Stuff): NZ Super Fund appoints Matt Whineray as new chief executive Foreign affairs and trade 1News: ‘It’s cruel’ – US policy of separating child migrants from parents criticised by New Zealand political leaders Claire Trevett (Herald): National and Labour criticise US border policy but Winston Peters stays mum Michael Reddell: Avoiding upset to Beijing: the Wellington establishment Justice and police Moana Makapelu Lee (Māori TV): PAPA protest Waikēria Prison expansion Māori TV: ‘Those are our people Kelvin’ – former inmate hits out at Corrections Minister Lindsay Mitchell: To reduce the prison population, try fixing the family Laura O’Connell Rapira: What the ActionStation community says needs to happen to fix our justice system Primary industries  Anne Gibson (Herald): Overseas investment law change a potential $4b forestry earner boost: Jones Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): ‘Rough’ calculations are sobering reading Charmian Smith (ODT): Has meat met its match? Local government MItchell Alexander (Newshub): Revealed: The number of councils considering a fuel tax Stuff: 14 councils are considering introducing a regional fuel tax Laura Mills (ODT): Mayors make bid for provincial funding Chris Harrowell and Danielle Clent (Manukau Courier): Auckland security guards ‘kicking rough sleepers awake’ Simon Wilson (Herald): Big new spending plans for transport, roads and buses in Auckland Catrin Owen (Stuff): High Court gives approval to Auckland Council to halve golf course Danielle Clent (Stuff): Te Henga marae will be ‘the heart’ of Te Kawerau ā Maki Kate Hawkesby (Newstalk ZB): Toxic councils a circus we ratepayers have to fund Laura Tupou (Newshub): Bay of Plenty residents plot court battle as their homes declared ‘unliveable’ Colette Devlin (Stuff): When will Wellington City Council start housing construction? RNZ: Councillor likely to lose seat after indecent assault conviction Damian George (Stuff): Victim of Kāpiti councillor David Scott says she’s been ridiculed since indecent assault 1News: ‘I’ve had to live it’: Victim speaks out after Kapiti councillor convicted, fined for rubbing his genitals against her Logan Church (RNZ): Chch theatre company ‘kicked out’ of theatre over funding Other David Williams (Newsroom): Rebuild agency rich pickings for consultants RNZ: New Zealand not immune to international financial crime – minister Gordon Campbell (Werewolf) On the latest High Court obstacle to the Hit & Run inquiry David Farrar: May public polls Koro Vaka’uta (RNZ): Sport: Samoans jump ship to Kiwis – where’s the outrage? Brian Easton (Pundit): Enabling Us to Assess Government Performance Better Herald: DIY retailers pull ionisation smoke alarms following Consumer NZ tests Newshub: Mitre 10, Hammer Hardware pull ‘poor performing’ smoke alarms from shelves Anne Gibson (Herald): ‘I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown’: Retiree on battle with Ngāti Whātua over demolished home Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (RNZ): Law firm pledges to speak te reo Māori to clients Phil Pennington (RNZ): Breaking confession seal may not help prevent abuse, say bishops Susan Edmunds (Stuff): Are you ready to give up cash? Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): NZ Post and minister agree 880 post outlets ‘a minimum’ but more may be agents 1News: New $300K fund launched to tell ‘the story of women’s continuing campaign for equality’ Robin Martin (RNZ): Civil Defence keeps closer eye on Mt Taranaki eruption risk Lois Williams (RNZ): Iwi claims assault on kaumātua as land dispute intensifies]]>